– A lost transit opportunity

If you’re planning to leave the car at home, take the ferry to Tsawwassen and hook up with the Canada Line rapid transit to get into Vancouver, good for you — but be prepared for a long ride.

Islanders — and tourists bound in this direction — appear to be an afterthought in the planning for transit links to the shiny new subway line. Although buses are scheduled to coincide with ferry arrivals and connect to the Canada Line at Bridgeport station in Richmond, no express runs exist. Riders will take almost 45 minutes to travel the 20 kilometres between ferry terminal and SkyTrain station on the old No. 620 route, making 11 stops along the way.

A real opportunity to get cars off the road is being lost here. How many potential transit users will look at the weak link between Tsawwassen and Richmond and opt for the convenience and saved time of simply taking their own vehicles?